The British commander was not much behindhand with the count
in the article of politeness, for he also returned a flag
with his compliments, and requested to be permitted four and twenty hours
to think of the matter.

If the ASKING such a favor was extraordinary, what must the GRANTING of it
have been? But the accomplished D'Estang was fully equal to such douceurs
for he actually allowed the enemy four and twenty hours
to think of surrendering!

But instead of THINKING, like simpletons, they fell to ENTRENCHING,
like brave soldiers. And being joined that very day by colonel Maitland
from Beaufort, with a regiment of Highlanders, and assisted by
swarms of negroes, decoyed from their masters under promise of freedom,
they pushed on their works with great rapidity. According to
the report of our troops who were encamped nearest to them,
nothing was heard all that night, but the huzzas of the soldiers,
the lashes of cow-hides, and the cries of negroes.

I never beheld Marion in so great a passion. I was actually afraid
he would have broke out on general Lincoln. "My God!" he exclaimed,
"who ever heard of any thing like this before! -- first allow an enemy
to entrench, and then fight him!! See the destruction brought upon
the British at Bunker's Hill! and yet our troops there were only militia!
raw, half-armed clodhoppers! and not a mortar, nor carronade,
nor even a swivel -- but only their ducking guns!

"What then are we to expect from regulars -- completely armed
with a choice train of artillery, and covered by a breast-work!